Fire Red Empress: Black Morphine

Fire Red Empress is known for their energy and intensity and this album captures it really well. The band first gained attention following a solid performance at the UK Bloodstock Festival and then again at the Summer Breeze festival in Germany. Once they started working with the producer Jacob Hansen, people began anxiously awaiting the band's debut to appear. Following initial praise from both Metal Hammer and Classic Rock Magazine, listeners were even more excited. Now that the album is out, everyone can hear what all the fuss is about.

The band is probably best described as a blend of hard rock, stoner rock, and that commercial style of hardcore that occasionally finds its way onto the radio. The band's biggest strengths are energy, power, and Jennifer Diehl. Her voice captures the listener's attention from the start. She has a distinctive voice that is harsh, heavy, and versatile. Many will rightly compare her to Lzzy Hale, but Diehl could easily find her footing in something even more extreme than Fire Red Empress.

The band is clearly having a good time here. The music is often hard hitting, groovy, and powerful. Tracks like "Dead Nature" set the stage nicely but lead into even better tracks like "Black Morphine," "Dear Mister," and "Giants." Although I admired the band's overall energy, the album was sometimes uneven. Tracks like "Seven" and "Maldoror Part 1" felt tentative and undeveloped. There are also times when the band's energy and attitude leave a stronger impression than the songwriting. Many listeners will also find this album trying too hard to be commercially viable. There's no denying Fire Red Empress is a strong band and there's also no doubt they will make a splash with some listeners. I'm curious to know what the future holds for them. They could be huge but they could also falter behind other bands also vying for the same audience.

Track Listing:
1. Dead Nature
2. Giants
3. Half Bird Half Beetle Half Man
4. Under the Barren Light
5. Hail the Face
6. Seven
7. Black Morphine
8. The Little Death
9. Dear Mister
10. 11.59
11. Maldoror Part 1
12. Maldoror Part 2

Added: October 28th 2017
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 1393
Language: english

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